How Do I Find a Book On the Shelf?

The Osterlin Library uses the Library of Congress classification system to catalog books. This system is used to assign call numbers and shelve books in the Reference and Circulating collections. U.S. Government Documents use a different system.

Titles in the Osterlin Library Online Catalog (WebCat) may be located in various parts of the building. The most common locations are stacks (books that can be checked out) and reference (books in the reference collection).

• Library of Congress Classification Outline From the Library of Congress.
• Understanding LC Call Numbers A tutorial on using call numbers.

How to find a call number

Example: Kids Count in Michigan, Data Book 2001.

Reference HQ 792 .M5 M5 2001

Look at each line separately.  

Attention:

.M5

Did you notice the period before M? This means that the numbers following are decimals. You must be careful with the order. Look for the first digit, in this case 5 first. Our example above would fall into the following sequence on the shelf.

What do call numbers mean?

If you have any difficulty locating books on the shelf, please ask a librarian for assistance. We have many great techniques for hunting down books that have gone into hiding.

Adapted from the University of Toronto "How to Use Library Catalogue" http://www.library.utoronto.ca/services/ilu/books/librarycongress.html